Broccoli Bacon Salad
This salad is delicious, can be kept in the fridge to dip into all week and is packed with nutrients.
Eat as a main, or a side with fish or meat dishes.
Broccoli Bacon Salad Recipe
Prep time: 15 mins Cook time: 10 mins Total time: 25 mins Portions: 6
INGREDIENTS
2 large heads of broccoli
14 rashers of streaky bacon (300g)
olive oil
150g cherry or sundried tomatoes
1/2 red onion
Handful of mixed seeds
DRESSING
½ a clove of garlic
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
Remainder of bacon fat
DIRECTIONS
Chop the broccoli into small florets, I like to do mine into bite sized pieces, including the stalk for added fibre and nutrients.
Blanch the broccoli in boiling salty water, just for a couple of minutes, enough to slightly soften, but still have a bite to it. Strain from the water and spread florets out to dry. Once dried add them to your serving bowl.
Chop the bacon and fry on a medium heat with a tablespoon of olive oil. Fry until crispy and add to the broccoli once cooked.
Finely slice the red onion, I like mine into strips, then blanch in ice cold water for 5 minutes as this stops them from overpowering the salad.
Whilst the onion is ‘curing’, half the cherry tomatoes or slice sundried and add to your bowl, along with the seeds.
For the dressing, peel and grate the garlic. Add the other ingredients, give it a whisk and pour over your salad.
Enjoy on it’s own, or as a side to meat or fish.
broccoli Nutrients
Broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable and is a rich rich source of fibre, vitamins A, C, and K.
Containing vital minerals; calcium, potassium, and iron boosting your energy levels.
Broccoli contains bioactive compounds such as glycosylates, sulforaphane, and indole-3-carbinol, all of which have been shown to have significant health-promoting effects. These chemicals are known to have potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects helping to protect the cells against disease.
broccoli benefits
Boosts your immune system, as it provides as much vitamin C as an orange.
Maintains strong bones.
Maintains heart heath.
Improves digestion and the liver.
Maintains eyesight, due to the carotenoids, called lutein and zeaxanthin, which are crucial for eye health and help to maintain good vision.
Aids healthy skin, due to the vitamin C and A content.
Helps to detoxify the blood, due to it’s sulphuric properties.
Aids fertility thanks to broccoli’s high folic acid content.